Although I have taught every subject, my district is moving toward block scheduling. I will be the math/science teacher on my team starting next school year. I will focus my Web 2.0 Tools on those two subject areas to help me start preparing for the Fall. I know there are a wealth of blogs, wikis, and podcasts that can help my students understand concepts better.
Math Web 2.0 Tools
Web 2.0 Tool
What does this tool offer?
How can students use these tools?
Blogs
Hooda Math This blog asks many questions about how math is used in every day life where people can respond. It would be a great place to come with students at the beginning of a unit when the question applies. Teach Kids Math Blog This blog even sorts activities and lesson ideas by grade level, a great resource.
They can use these blogs or even form a class blog to recommend websites that explain the concepts being taught in class.
Wikis
CESA 5 Math Science Partnership This wiki offers "Brain Teasers" that include challenging problems. It also includes links to math glossaries as well as helpful websites. 278 Math This wiki is organized by grade so it is easier to find activities that pertain to the grade level I teach. It also includes a wealth of resources to use when working with students on mastering basic multiplication facts (a difficult concept each year).
Math Club students can choose a "Brian Teaser" from CESA 5 Math Science Partnership each week to come to Math Club and explain to the students.
Students having trouble with basic facts can log onto the 278 Math wiki and print out their own practice sheets to show they are continuously studying their facts. They can also use a class wiki to keep track of the other websites that explain what we're doing in class.
Podcasts
Miss Davis' Math Magic This podcast allows teachers and students to listen to "math magicians" explain difficult concepts. Math Train This podcast is done by middle school students explaining various concepts.
Students can listen to these podcasts at the start of a new unit. Then, at the end of a unit, they can create their own podcast that explains what they learned.
Specific Web 2.0 Tools (Free)
Khan AcademyVideo demonstrations about various math concepts are available (and can be downloaded as well). There are practice activities that students can complete online with hints, if necessary. Students have the ability to check individual progress, earn badges, and set goals. Teachers have the ability to check progress of entire class.Math LiveCartoon episodes, starring the same four characters, about math found in everyday life are available. There are online practice activities along with the episodes, as well as an illustrated math glossary, parent notes, and teacher notes. There are also assessments that include exemplars to help with grading.The following is a presentation that I completed for a previous class where I analyzed the two tools from above:
Science Fix This blog is geared for teachers of students slightly older than what I teach. However, I still feel that I can take a variety of resources from it such as lesson ideas, websites, videos, and podcasts. Making Science Fun This blog is written by Steve Spangler, who has even been on Ellen. He has always been enthusiastic about sharing what is so great about science. His blog shares his ideas further.
We can log on to these blogs to find out about upcoming podcasts or websites that we can use in class.
Wikis
Mrs. Godfrey's Gators This wiki has other subjects available other than science, but I was overwhelmed by the amount of science resources listed here. It includes notebook, powerpoint, and word file attachments to look at organized by subject. Science Cafe This wiki is organized by topic so it is easy to find lesson ideas about everything from fossils, to energy, to space, and more.
We can create our own wiki modeled after Mrs. Godfrey's Gators that explains what we're doing and so students can access classroom presentations from home.
Podcasts
60 Second Space This podcast allows experts in space and astronomy to give a one minute summary about what is going on in space. NASA Podcasts This podcast is put out by NASA updating students on what is going on in space.
We can keep a school year timeline based on what we hear on these podcasts about current events that have to do with space.
Specific Web 2.0 Tools (Free)
Visible Body
During our Human Body unit, this site would help us demonstrate where everything is located in the human body. Virtual Solar System
This site demonstrates everything that makes up our solar system with pictures as well as information.
Students can access these sites from home or in school for further understanding during those units.
Hi Erin,
You have a great selection of different types of Web 2.0 Tools to use in your classroom. I have taught math myself, so I know the importance of having multiple resources for a student to learn a mathematical concept. I see a lot of my students use Hooda Math now, they really enjoy that website. If you would like to try other Web 2.0 Links, I know that these sites are study skills websites with multiple subject areas and activities.
This also needs a user account, Im sure your BOCES has the access for you to use it, it has activities, games, and lesson plans based on their video library.
I also get great ideas for lessons and resources from other teachers in the social network site Edmodo, you should check it out.
Math Web 2.0 Tools
This blog asks many questions about how math is used in every day life where people can respond. It would be a great place to come with students at the beginning of a unit when the question applies.
Teach Kids Math Blog
This blog even sorts activities and lesson ideas by grade level, a great resource.
This wiki offers "Brain Teasers" that include challenging problems. It also includes links to math glossaries as well as helpful websites.
278 Math
This wiki is organized by grade so it is easier to find activities that pertain to the grade level I teach. It also includes a wealth of resources to use when working with students on mastering basic multiplication facts (a difficult concept each year).
Students having trouble with basic facts can log onto the 278 Math wiki and print out their own practice sheets to show they are continuously studying their facts. They can also use a class wiki to keep track of the other websites that explain what we're doing in class.
This podcast allows teachers and students to listen to "math magicians" explain difficult concepts.
Math Train
This podcast is done by middle school students explaining various concepts.
(Free)
Unit of Study with Web 2.0 Tools
Science Web 2.0 Tools
This blog is geared for teachers of students slightly older than what I teach. However, I still feel that I can take a variety of resources from it such as lesson ideas, websites, videos, and podcasts.
Making Science Fun
This blog is written by Steve Spangler, who has even been on Ellen. He has always been enthusiastic about sharing what is so great about science. His blog shares his ideas further.
This wiki has other subjects available other than science, but I was overwhelmed by the amount of science resources listed here. It includes notebook, powerpoint, and word file attachments to look at organized by subject.
Science Cafe
This wiki is organized by topic so it is easy to find lesson ideas about everything from fossils, to energy, to space, and more.
This podcast allows experts in space and astronomy to give a one minute summary about what is going on in space.
NASA Podcasts
This podcast is put out by NASA updating students on what is going on in space.
(Free)
During our Human Body unit, this site would help us demonstrate where everything is located in the human body.
Virtual Solar System
This site demonstrates everything that makes up our solar system with pictures as well as information.
Hi Erin,
You have a great selection of different types of Web 2.0 Tools to use in your classroom. I have taught math myself, so I know the importance of having multiple resources for a student to learn a mathematical concept. I see a lot of my students use Hooda Math now, they really enjoy that website. If you would like to try other Web 2.0 Links, I know that these sites are study skills websites with multiple subject areas and activities.
Enjoy,
Tim